00:00Belgium's King Philip has rejected Prime Minister Bart de Wever's resignation and asked him
00:05to resume budget talks immediately.
00:07De Wever offered to step down on Monday after coalition partners failed to agree on a 2027
00:13spending plan.
00:15After meeting leaders of the five governing parties, the king said they had committed
00:19to making concessions to reach an agreement.
00:22De Wever is seeking 10 billion euros by 2029 to close the budget gap, but parties remain
00:29divided over how to find the money.
00:32Proposals include spending cuts and a VAT increase, opposed by the francophone liberal reformist
00:37movement.
00:38De Wever must report back to the king on Monday, November 16th.
